Guys, here’s what to wear to a summer wedding
There’s tons of idea boards on what’s appropriate for ladies to wear to weddings (including the ever-proverbial warnings on overly sexy attire) — but men seem to get the short end of the stick. When it comes to the summer wedding circuit, are dudes expected to look composed in a three-piece suit, even when it’s blistering hot outside? We’ve got the scoop.
When uncertain, respect the dress code
“First off, look at the invitation to make sure that the dress code is pretty lenient,” says Dessy Danishwar, a PR specialist, wardrobe consultant and fashion contributor for the Huffington Post. “If it’s a black tie event you can’t really get away with much because it’s a black tie — but you can personalize (your tux) and get some French laces, patterned pocket squares and some cool cufflinks.”
“If there’s no dress code, and it’s just a nice summer wedding, you’re lucky because then you can go into the linens. You don’t have to wear the bow tie or even a jacket for that matter; you’re good with a short sleeve linen shirt and linen pants.”
And if it’s a balmy beach wedding? Danishwar suggests ditching the socks and opting for some nice loafers or sandals.
Consider a short suit
If a traditional suit makes you feel constricted or uncomfortable, opt for a short suit to look classy, cool and trendy.
“A short suit almost kind of looks like tailored Bermuda shorts; with the jacket, a colored dress shirt, maybe a bow-tie and some nice loafers. It might be my go-to, especially in a classier fabric, like fresco wool, chambray or tropical wool, where it doesn’t look too casual,” says Danishwar. “It would look dapper and classy—but you’ll also feel really good in it.”
Be colour conscious
You can have fun with colours to a certain extent, but you never want to upstage the groom — just like no lady wants to upstage the bride. When in doubt, keep it simple.
“I would keep the colours a little bit more neutral, and more light and summery as opposed to neon green, or a bedazzled jean jacket; even a plaid jacket or pants I’d probably say no,” says Danishwar. “Definitely classic greys, khakis; white you can probably pull off on a beach wedding, if it’s linen.”
You probably want to avoid this for a wedding. (Photo: OppoSuits)
Opt for cool, breathable fabrics fabrics
Linen and lightweight cotton are go-to summer wedding fabrics as they’re both breathable and allow air to circulate more freely so you remain cool. Since these are natural fibres, they’re also better at soaking up perspiration. Tip: Opt for a blend of both fabrics to help keep clothing creases at bay.
Seersucker is a thin, lightweight cotton fabric that has a lot of texture, but doesn’t wrinkle. It’s typically characterized by stripes, so if you’re hesitant about wearing a full seersucker suit, Danishwar suggests carrying it with a solid, pastel colour.
Tropical wool is woven less densely than regular wool; it also absorbs and evaporates moisture, which, according to Danishwar, makes it “great for those hot days when you’re sweating.” . Bonus: tropical wool doesn’t wrinkle as much as cotton or linen.
Fresco wool is a multi-yard, high-twisted, very breathable fabric and comfortable to don during the summer. It’s sturdy and durable, but won’t wrinkle as much as linen. Bottom line: “If you wear a suit made from fresco wool, you’ll look really dapper and feel really good too,” says Danishwar.
Chambray is the cousin to denim; it’s lighter in colour and more lightweight (yet still sturdy). “With chambray, you can get (it) in a nice light-denim colour; maybe not a baby blue, but in a medium blue, and it actually looks pretty sharp.”
What’s your go-to summer wedding look? Let us know by tweeting @YahooStyleCA.
